Hyundai and Motional launch Ioniq 5 Robotaxi

Hyundai has partnered with American autonomous vehicle company Motional to launch the autonomous transport vehicle, Ioniq 5 Robotaxi.

According to the South Korean carmaker, the Ioniq 5 Robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle that can safely operate without a driver. In addition, it will be a zero tailpipe-emissions robotaxi that represents the convergence of the two most transformative technologies in mobility: electrification and autonomy. The fusion of these technologies, according to Hyundai, can make transportation smarter, safer, and more sustainable.

“Hyundai Motor has evolved its Ioniq 5, a battery-electric vehicle built on its EV-dedicated platform, into a platform for fully autonomous vehicles. For the Ioniq 5-based robotaxi, we have applied various redundancy systems, in addition to a suite of essential technologies to ensure the safety and convenience of the passengers. By successfully integrating the Group’s Ioniq 5 robotaxi with Motional’s autonomous driving technology, we are proud to announce that we have achieved another important milestone on the road to the commercialization of our robotaxi,” said Hyundai Motor Group Autonomous Driving Center Chief Woongjun Jang.

The Ioniq 5 Robotaxi features a technology-driven design that includes a suite of sensors sitting atop the robotaxi. These include a combination of cameras, radars, and lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors that provide the robotaxi robust 360-degree perception, high-resolution images, and ultra-long-range detection of objects for safe autonomous operation in diverse driving environments.

It will also be outfitted with Motional’s proven driverless technology, which includes advanced machine learning systems — trained on decades of real-world data — that enable the vehicle to safely navigate challenging and complex driving situations.

The Ioniq 5 Robotaxi is built on Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP).

“This robotaxi represents Motional’s vision of a driverless future becoming a reality. Through our strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Group and Aptiv, we have unparalleled automotive and software expertise across our entire vehicle development process. This deep collaboration enables us to manufacture a robotaxi that’s both highly safe and reliable, and is cost-optimized for global production. We’re focused on mass commercialization, and the Ioniq 5 robotaxi is built for that purpose,” said Motional President and CEO Karl Iagnemma.

Hyundai and Motional ensure that the Ioniq 5 Robotaxi was built with safety and comfort in mind. That said, redundant features — across every function, such as the navigation, steering, braking, and power — that emphasize passenger safety and convenience are found throughout the vehicle.

The Ioniq 5 Robotaxi will start transporting public passengers in 2023, this time through a partnership with Lyft, a US-based mobility company.

Photos from Hyundai

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